Farming Simulator 18 for PC – Windows/MAC Download

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a farmer without getting your hands dirty? Well now you can with Farming Simulator 18 for PC.

Gameplay

Farming Simulator 18 for PC is the most comprehensive farming simulator on the market. The game is complex and requires more from you than simply remembering to log on and water a few plants. FS 18 requires you to plow fields, tend to animals and fertilize your crops in ways that demand that you understand how a farm really works.

The game was designed for consoles therefore the controls reflect that. If you’re using a game-pad or controller then you will need to pay attention to the button mapping because just about every button will need to be used. For example, you’ll need to bring up maps using one of the shoulder buttons and select items from the drop-down menu all while driving a tractor around.

You’ll start the game by deciding on one of two farms to begin with. You first plot will need a lot of work before you see your first harvest and in some cases you may even need to hire a few farm hands if your finances allow for it. The only issue with hiring farm hands is in how daft the artificial intelligence is.

The AI is so stupid that the simplest of obstacles will make them incapable of finishing their jobs. When this happens you’ll have to abandon what you were doing and take over on their behalf. Once you figure out what they can and can’t handle then you’ll know how to manage them but that takes time to learn.

Aside from handling the fields you will also need to know how to handle the farm’s finances. The complexity involved in managing your finances is intense because simple things like how well you manage your livestock and farm-hands will have a big effect on whether you will be able to buy new equipment or even afford to run the old equipment.

That shiny new tractor may seem like a good idea but you’ll always be questioning whether you really need it.

The Good

The graphics look incredibly lifelike. Despite the odd times when the grass-blades cut through your truck, the animals look real and the fields as well. The execution is also fairly good and gives you a realistic idea of what it is like to work on a farm.

The Bad

The AI of the farm-hands is bound to piss you off more than once. Farm-hands aren’t hired for their intellect however you would expect them to be able to handle more than they do. If you can look past that then you’ll still need to be a serious fan of farming to deal with the repetitive nature of the tasks.

Conclusion

Farming Simulator 18 for PC is definitely a niche game. Very few people will enjoy it but those who do are likely to stick with it for a long time. It could do with a bit more polishing however that can be fixed on the game’s next installment.